by Renee Israel
Sports betting sites are proving to be particularly creative and innovative this World Cup season, offering punters far beyond the traditional bets that they are used to finding during other soccer tournaments.
Here are some of the more interesting novelty bets we picked up on at bookmaker sites:
Number of tournament shark attacks: With its pristine beaches and thousands of kilometres of beaches, South Africa is shark heaven at the best of times. Bookies are offering odds on how many shark attacks there will be in South Africa during the World Cup according to the news. Odds of 10/11 are currently offered that there will be none.
First WAG pictured in a bikini: Bookies have defined this market as "a new photo from South Africa of a WAG in a bikini in a UK Red Top Tabloid during the World Cup." Coleen Rooney tops the charts with odds of 2/1, followed by Abbey Clancy 3/1. Posh Beckham appears with odds of 5/1.
World Cup Baby: The coach won't like this, but his players may have other things on their mind besides soccer during the World Cup. A betting market has opened up on the first England player to have a World Cup baby born before March 2011. Odds of 3/1 are offered on Terry, 4/1 on Gerrard and 5/1 on Rooney.
Weather: There's nothing more boring than wagering on the weather, but when we're talking about the day of the finals of the World Cup, things take on a different perspective. Bookies are offering odds on the top temperature in Johannesburg for the final of the World Cup. Odds: Under 10 degrees C: 12/1; Over 20 degrees C: 4/1
Look out for these bets - and others - at UK betting sites such as Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and William Hill.
